Toy dump car



H. J. FERR-l.

TOY DUMP CAR Nov. 19, 1940.

Filed t. 21, 1958 1NVENTOR Henry J Fer/"L ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 19, 1940 irsb srrs l QFFECE TOY D CAR Application October 21, 1938, Serial N 0. 236,244

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to toy dump cars, and is more particularly directed toward electromagnetically operated dump cars adapted for use on toy railroads.

The present invention contemplates a mechanism for the above purpose whereby the hopper which is normally biased to position for carrying materials may be locked in this position, and this look may be released by the electromagnetic means which then operates to tilt the hopper into dumping position.

The accompanying drawing shows, for purposes of illustrating the present invention, one of the many embodiments in which the invention may take form, it being understood that the drawing is illustrative of the invention rather than limiting the same.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of one end 20 of a toy car having the hopper and hopper operating mechanism;

Figures 2 and 3 are sectional views taken on the lines 22 of Figures 1 and 5 showing the mechanism in the normal and in the dumping positions, respectively;

Figure 4 is a cross section taken on the line 44 of Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a horizontal cross section on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

In the drawing one of the trucks or a toy car is indicated at I0, the rails at I I and the current collector at l2. The body of the car is indicated at 13. At the ends of the body are two uprights l4, only one of which appears in the drawing, and between these uprights is carried the hopper of the dump car, this hopper being supported on shafts, one of which appears at I6. The shafts pass through the vertical plates 14 and support the hopper above the body of the car. The pivotal support is placed so that the hopper has a tendency to swing to the position shown in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5.

The shaft l6 which extends through the verti- 45 cal plate l4 shown in the drawing has a pinion ll which is in mesh with a toothed sector [8 carried on an arm I 9 pivoted at to the plate M. This arm is adapted to swing back and forth adjacent the plate M. The plate I4 also carries 50 a locking plate 2| pivotally supported at 22 and adapted to normally hang down in the position shown in Figure 2. This plate has a notch 23 which normally receives the end 24 of the oscillatory operating arm 19 so as to lock this arm in 55 the full line position of Figure 2.

The plate M which supports these elements is preferably L-shaped, and has a base portion 25 which extends along the car body l3 and which supports a solenoid coil 26 whose axis is between the axis of the shaft l6 and the axis of the pivot 5 22. This coil has an armature 21 normally held in the upper position, as shown by the spring 28, which armature has a laterally extending arm 23 which passes through a slot 30 in the plate l4 and the locking plate 2| has a cam-like element 10 3! which, when the plate is in the position shown in Figure 2, is in the path of the arm 29. When the coil 26 is energized the armature is pulled down from the position of'Figure 2 to the position of Figure 3, and in its initial movement it 16 brings the arm 29 against the camming surface 3i and swings the plate to the dot-and-dash line position of Figure 3. It then engages with the arm l9 and this arm swings the locking lever further to the left and is brought down to the po- 20 sition shown in Figure 3, thereby shifting the hopper to the position shown in Figure 3 in full lines and in Figure 4 in dot-and-dash lines.

When the circuit for the coil is opened, the spring 28 pushes up the armature and during 25 this movement the hopper will cause the end 24 of the arm l9 to pass along the edge 32 of the locking plate to hold it out of the way, so that the arm 2Q can pass by the camming surface 3t. 30 After the end 24 of the arm has entered the notch 23 of the plate, the parts are locked in position. The entire operating mechanism may be carried on the end of the car, as indicated in the drawing, and concealed by a cover 33 which may 35 be of insulating material.

It is obvious that the invention may be embodied in many forms and constructions within the scope of the claims and I wish it to be understood that the particular form shown is but one of the many forms. Various modifications and changes being possible, I do not otherwise limit myself in any way with respect thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A toy dump car comprising a pivotally supported hopper biased to a normal position for carrying materials, a pinion drivingly connected to the hopper, a pivoted arm carrying a sector meshing with the pinion, a gravity controlled locking plate normally engaging the end of the arm to hold it and the hopper in normal position,

a solenoid coil having an armature engageable with the locking plate to shift it to release the arm and then engageable with the arm to swing the hopper to dumping position, and a spring for restoring the armature to normal position when 1 the coil is deenergized.

2. A mechanism for operating an oscillatory comprising a pinion, a sector meshing with the pinion, an arm carried by the sector, a

gravity controlled lock acting on the arm to normally hold it locked with the oscillatory device .rotatably carried by in its normal position, avsolenoid coil having an armature operating on the lock to release the arm and then on the arm to turn the pinion on its axis, and a spring for restoring the armature to normal position when the coil is deenergized.

3. In a device of the class described, a car body carrying a vertical plate, a horizontal shaft the plate, a pinion on the shaft, a sectored arm pivoted to the plate and meshing with the pinion, a locking plate pivoted to the vertical plate and having a notch to engage the end of the arm and a cam forming edge, and. a vertically reciprocable armature adapted to engage with the cam forming edge to push the locking late away from the arm and to then engage with the arm to swing the same.

4. In a toy dump car, a tiltable hopper biased to a normal position for carrying materials, an oscillatory hopper operator for tilting the hopper to dumping position, a gravity controlled lock for the operator, and electromagnetically operated means for shifting the lock to release the operator and for then shifting the operator to dump the contents of the hopper.

5. A toy dump car comprising a car body provided with uprights at the ends thereof, one of.

pivotally supported in the uprights, the hopper being biased to a normal position for carrying materials, a pinion drivingly connected to the hopper, an arm pivotally secured to one of the uprights and carrying a sector meshing with the pinion, an arm lock pivoted to said upright and acting to hold the hopper in normal position, an electromagnet supported from the base of said upright and having an armature for releasing the lock and operating the arm to shift the hopper to dumpposition, and a spring for normally holding the armature away irom said arm lock and arm.

J FERRI. 

